Future Infiniti Q50s May Offer Turbo-Four, Turbodiesel - 2013 Detroit

After a short performance from Cirque du Soleil dancers, the sheets were pulled off the 2014 Infiniti Q50 sedan at the 2013 Detroit auto show today. Replacing the 2013 Infiniti G sedan, the Q50 will be offered with a 328-hp V-6 and a hybrid V-6 model with 354 net hp, but company officials also mentioned future global powertrains would include turbocharged I-4s and diesel engines.

At the reveal, Infiniti president Johan de Nysschen said the Q50 would "initially" come with a hybrid model with a 3.5-liter V-6 and a 3.7-liter V-6 gas engine, with the key word being "initially." He also mentioned that Infiniti's future global powertrains will include a turbocharged gas I-4 and a clean diesel, and we can't help but wonder whether the U.S.-spec Q50 will, at some point offer at least one or both potential options mentioned above. Nysschen wants the brand to be a stronger player in the premium segment, and a turbo-four Q50 could help reach that goal by directly competing with BMW's recently revealed 320i sedan, powered by 180-hp turbo I-4.However, those powertrains may not come to the U.S. at all; Infiniti already tried a lower-powered variant with the G25, which we slammed in our Sport Luxury Sedan comparison for its anemic drivertrain. With Infiniti stressing that the performance of its cars are at its core, it will be interesting to see what the luxury brand has it up its sleeves with future Q50 variants to better compete with cars from BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, and others.

What powertrain would you like to see in the Infiniti Q50: a turbo-four, a turbodiesel, or would you stick with the 3.7-liter V-6 or the hybrid V-6?For all the latest news, photos, videos, and much more direct from the 2013 Detroit auto show, head to our 2013 Detroit auto show coverage page here.

Why are they replacing the G name with the Q name? The Q nameplate use to be their top of the line series. The Q45 was competing with the Lexus LS and such. Why take that name and bring it down market to an entry level position?